Denim and casual wear Major Pepe Jeans has decided to open around 50 own stores to strengthen its retailing footprint in India and 20 of which would be opened this fiscal.

"We have four own stores and will open 20 more in the current fiscal. The number will be gradually scaled up in the coming years. We already have permission for around 50 own single brand stores," Pepe Jeans India Managing Director Kavindra Mishra told PTI.

The company wants to take advantage of the liberalised policies that allow foreign single-brand retailers to sell through their own stores as well as franchisee outlets.

Mishra said the company was taking over at least some of the franchisee stores to convert them into company owned and company operated stores.

Pepe Jeans has denim line, kids wear and will soon foray into inner wear products. The company will float a joint venture company in which city based Dollar Industries will be picking up 50 per cent stake in SPV.

The equity portion would be Rs 72 crore in the Rs 200 crore projects in the SPV that projects to attain a topline of Rs 600 crore in its 9th or 10th year, officials said.

Mishra said, Pepe Jeans will foray into Indonesia by early next year. Initially, the market will be serviced from India till a critical mass is reached before local supply chain is established in the country.

Pepe Jeans was also contemplating entering China and dialogue is on, officials said.